Patent GB-936923-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to automatic couplers for rail vehicles
Inventor: WHITEHOUSE GLENROY DOUGLAS
IPC: B61G7/04
Filed: 1961-02-14
Abstract: 936,923. Operating linkage for automatic couplings. ENGLISH STEEL CORPORATION Ltd. Feb. 6, 1962 [Feb. 14, 1961; Aug. 2, 1961], Nos. 5359/61 and 27978/61. Class 103(5). An automatic coupler, e.g. a Willison or Janney coupler, of the type having a locking member urged towards a locking position and which when withdrawn permits a mating coupler to be disengaged without it being necessary to move the locking member of the mating coupler, comprises a transversely movable lock operating lever which may slide relatively with respect to the lock and moves the lock in a direction at right angles to its own movement. In Fig. 2 a lock operating lever 18 is provided with a pin 17 engaging in a slot 16 machined in the coupler body and is engaged by a spring-loaded plunger 23. In the full line position shown the plunger 23 urges the lock 5 to the locking position, but when the lever 18 is moved transversely of the coupler the pin 17 is moved to the other end of the slot 16 and the plunger 23 withdraws the lock 5 and retains it in the unlocked position. In the dotted line position shown, the lever 18 is used temporarily to withdraw the lock 5, the lock returning to the locking position when the pivoting force applied to one of the eyes 24 on the lever is removed. A flat wedge 25 welded into a slot 26 provides a limiting abutment. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the lever 18 is bent and in the right hand position engages a cam surface 39 on the coupler body, in which position it is retained by the pin 17 and surfaces 38, 39 against the action of the spring 30 of the withdrawn lock 5. The lock 5 may be temporarily withdrawn as shown on the left of Fig. 3 by swinging the lever 18 about its pivot 17. The embodiments so far described may be automatically operated by track mounted devices such as those described in Specifications 936,924 and 936,925, but for track operation the following embodiment is preferable, as unnecessary bending moments on the levers 18 are removed. In Figs. 7, 8, the lever 18 is pin and slot connected at 43, 45 for transverse movement to a lever 44 which is pivoted at 46 to the coupler body and provided with an end 47 which may be swung automatically by apparatus mounted on the track. The lever 44 is also provided with a shunting pole eye 49 for manual operation. The slot 16 engaging the pivot pin 17 is arcuate to discourage any tendency for the plunger 23 to hold the lever 18 in a dead-centre position. Slots 50 leading into slots 16 are provided for admitting the pins 17 during assembly. In Figs. 11, 12 the lock 54 of a pivoted knuckle coupler is lifted and lowered in a guide 59 by a transversely movable operating member or slide 62 having a cam 65 engaging beneath a cross or bridge piece 64 of a depending hook member 56 engaging the lock. In raising the lock by swinging the pivoted lever 73 and sliding the member 62, the lock 54 engages a beak 83, of a knuckle thrower pivoted at 82 so that the part 84 of the thrower engages and swings the knuckle tail 55. In the unlocked position the bridge rests in a valley 71 on the cam 65 so as to provide the thrower with freedom to swing in the event of the knuckle being buffed. When the lock is lowered again in the uncoupled condition it is brought to rest on the knuckle tail 55 in a lock-set position.